An early chance fell to Issy Humphrey. She was picked out by E-J May and was able to drive forwards before getting a strike away. The AFC Stoneham keeper was equal to it.

The game settled down and found its rhythm as the two teams were able to probe each other and hold the other to limited opportunities in the opening exchanges.

Stepping up a gear, the Hawks pushed forwards and created an opening after some positive play from Tia Hooper. With some great footwork, she worked her way into space before threading a teasing ball into the area for Hay to pick up. She cut a delivery into a dangerous area but Stoneham were able to clear away.

At the midway point of the first period, Chelsie Hay would fashion the best chance of the tie as she evaded a couple of challenges before driving at goal. She got the strike at goal but was denied by the closing Stoneham keeper.

Laurie Potvin would be unlucky to not open the scoring shortly after as she met a delivery from deep by May. She connected with the ball well but could only nod wide.

Continuing to create chances, Hay and May would have opportunities come close as the Hawks looked to cause problems going forward. Stoneham continued to look dangerous when coming forwards but some brilliant defensive work and a couple of stops from Paines kept the teams locked even approaching the half-hour mark.

Sophie Lee would open the scoring as the Hawks won the ball in the Stoneham half and sprung forward. Hay in the area was through but slid the ball across the face of goal to Sophie who made no mistake from close range.

From the restart the Hawks would come close to doubling their advantage, a deflected strike was pushed wide by the Stoneham keeper. It was picked up by Humphrey who, from a tight angle looked to poke goalwards but the visitors recovered well.

Now trailing in the tie, Stoneham looked to commit more forwards as they attempted to level the tie ahead of the break and nearly found the leveller but some good defensive work from Tallulah Dixon and Laurie Potvin held the move up before Paines got a vital touch to send the strike wide of the post.

More Hawks chances would come but the Stoneham keeper, once again would be on hand to make the stop to deny both Hay and Lee some good opportunities.

In stoppage time, the Hawks had a golden opportunity to double their lead. A teasing freekick sent into the area by May was spilt into the path of Potvin. Her effort was blocked with the loose ball squirming into the path of Millie Underwood who struck at goal. Her effort was cleared off the line by a recovering Stoneham defender.

HALF TIME: Havant and Waterlooville 1-0 AFC Stoneham

The Hawks came out of the blocks well at the start of the second period putting Stoneham under pressure. Despite this, it would be the visitors who would have the ball in the net. A mix-up leading to a header being buried into the bottom corner would’ve seen the game all squared but for an offside in the build up that would come as a wake-up call to the Hawks.

From the resulting freekick, the Hawks would double their advantage as a clipped ball into the area fell into the path of Sophie Lee who bagged her second poking an effort past the onrushing goalkeeper into the bottom corner.

The game seemed to settle into a tempo that suited the Hawks as it allowed them to control proceedings, limiting Stoneham to very few opportunities on the ball. Chances were still being created but in similar fashion, the Stoneham defensive efforts were able to repel the danger.

With twenty minutes left to play, the Hawks would get their third! An excellent delivery into the area from E-J May found the head of Chelsie Hay who headed home to get a thoroughly deserved goal and extend the Hawks’ advantage.

More Hawks pressure would see Hay bag her second of the afternoon in eight minutes after the first to place the tie beyond any doubt! Chelsie timed her run expertly to get onto the end of an excellent ball forwards. She rounded the keeper and slotted an effort into the bottom corner to seal the points for the Hawks.

There were chances in the remaining time for both sides but the Hawks engineered an excellent and controlled end to the game which wrapped up the 2024/25 campaign in fantastic fashion!

Following Sunday’s game, the Hawks sit top of the table with a guaranteed minimum 2^nd place finish. Fleet Town are the team that can catch our Hawks, they require 5 points from a possible 9 in their remaining 3 games.

FULL TIME: Havant and Waterlooville 4-0 AFC Stoneham

Havant and Waterlooville: Paines (GK), Potvin, McNamara (Marsh 58’), May (C), Lee (Key 81’), Dixon, Hay, Underwood (Green 45+4’), Humphrey (Hamilton 74’), Hooper, Freeman

Goals: Lee 32’, 56’, Hay 70’, 78’

Report By: Josh Verroken